Assessment of Mental Health condition of Tiger Widows

Abstract

In Sundarbans, many people fall prey to tiger attacks and lose their lives. The widows and widowers of the victims are stigmatized because of the villagers’ superstitions that the tiger attacks were somehow their faults. They are often ostracised by society and barred from accessing social benefits. Due to this they may develop post traumatic stress disorder and depression amongst other mental diseases. There has been extensive research done on the mental health of the “tiger-widows” in the Indian part of the Sundarbans but not as many in the Bangladeshi part. In this study we explored the incidents of PTSD and Depression among Tiger Widows via questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Our result showed that Tiger Widows are at a higher risk of both PTSD and Depression than non-Tiger Widows- i.e. widows whose husbands have not died due to tiger attacks. Through this study we hope to shed light on the mental health of tiger-widows and highlight the need for more research in this specific area.